Tony The Pony

This just may well be Morrissey's response song to the Pixies "Tony's Theme"

I love this song. I'm so shocked that no one else has commented on it. It's definately one of Morrissey's more bitter songs. It's interesting because he kind of changes throughout whether he's singing about himself or his lover, with whom he is jealous of/dissatified with. Morrissey is actually referring to himself as the "older, nagging big brother" -- he tries to justify his behavior as "only looking out for you" but then he (in typical self-effacingness) ridicules himself for "spending his time crying" only to turn back to denunciation of the lover, Tony. That's why I say it is a bitter song, because he is addressing his disgust to both himself and the lover. Originally I thought the whole song was a basic tirade against Tony but upon analysis I realized that the song is partly Morrissey singing to himself.

I've always found this song to be a tad strange ending to a very strange album. Tony the Pony was added to the american version of Kill Uncle to move more copies in the US, as the original English version of the album did not include it.

I'm not sure if I agree with your lover analysis, David, but this is a subject that Moz likes, that is the "hooligan with the heart of gold." I actually consider this an early version of "First of the Gang to Die." Both Hector and Tony are clear hooligans who have a penchant for getting themselves into trouble, but here the narrattor plays the part of the good older brother type who is ultimately the type of jerk that says "I told you so"

Still the narator loves Tony (like everyone loves Hector) but in the end not even love can be enough to help Tony out of whatever predicament "drinking with his friends" has finally gotten him to. Probably, a bullet in the gullet, as mentioned in "First"

I've always found this song to be a tad strange ending to a very strange album. Tony the Pony was added to the american version of Kill Uncle to move more copies in the US, as the original English version of the album did not include it.

I'm not sure if I agree with your lover analysis, David, but this is a subject that Moz likes, that is the "hooligan with the heart of gold." I actually consider this an early version of "First of the Gang to Die." Both Hector and Tony are clear hooligans who have a penchant for getting themselves into trouble, but here the narrattor plays the part of the good older brother type who is ultimately the type of jerk that says "I told you so"

Still the narator loves Tony (like everyone loves Hector) but in the end not even love can be enough to help Tony out of whatever predicament "drinking with his friends" has finally gotten him to. Probably, a bullet in the gullet, as mentioned in "First"

It should be "soft touch Tony", not "fucked up Tony" I doubt Morrissey would ever use the word "fuck" in a song.

It's always sounded like "soft touch Tony" to me. Not sure where people got "fucked up Tony"

Morrissey himself has described this as "the worst song in the history of music." Not to say that I agree.

There's a video of him saying it actually: go on Youtube and search for "morrissey tony the pony."

Yeah, I was there that night. I didn't really know the song tony the pony. But than i listened too it a few times. And started watching 24 and Tony from the series makes me think of Tony the pony. Cause tony from 24 acts a little like someone called Tony the pony

A delicate and cinematic song. Mozzer could always paint an indelible picture.

woah. he said fuck. that's rare.